Bill Elliott was probably the happiest guy in Indianapolis Saturday afternoon when the skies cleared and, most importantly, NASCAR chose to avoid canceling qualifying.
Welcome back to another edition of Sprint Cup Notes & Quotes, where even Noah couldn't keep his boat afloat after the non-stop rain at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Are you one of those lonely souls mad that David Reutimann snookered 'em -- yep, that's the first recorded use of that word on FH -- to win his first career race Monday afternoon?
If so, get over it. First time winners are fun to see, and when the race officially ended he was the car leading everyone else. Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers and the rest of the field didn't have to pit, but they did -- and that's just the way it goes.
I'd still like an explanation as to why NASCAR decided on a start time of 12 p.m./EDT for the Monday make-up of its longest race.
Another top 10, another $10. Dave Blaney's 6th place finish earned him another spot in the owners points standings, which means I owe the Victory Junction Gang Camp more dough.
Blaney grabbed the 34th spot from the #45, driven mostly by Kyle Petty, whose 18th place finish in Saturday night's Bank of America 500 marked only his third top 20 for the season. His best finish was 3rd, last time around at Charlotte--his only top 5 of the season.
Lucky for him, Bill Elliott didn't fare too well in the #21, finishing 35th and doubling the gap between the 35th and 36th spots. I'm not understanding why Wood Brothers / JTG Racing isn't keeping Ken Schrader in the car. I realize he hasn't set the world on fire, but Elliott's not been significantly better and there's something to be said for a little consistency.
Scott Riggs is over 300 points out now and has the #10 car in 37th place--bummer for Patrick Carpentier who takes over driving duties in 2008 and will start the season being forced to qualify on time. Hey ... is he cleared to race in Daytona?
Boris Said was living the life Sunday at Watkins Glen. He, after all, got a last-minute ride in the Wood Brothers No. 21 after missing the race in his own car due to rain on Friday's qualifying.
And now, Ken Schrader should be back in the ride this weekend at Michigan International Speedway thanks to Said.
With his fake afro-clad legion of fans -- the "Said-heads" -- cheering the road course turned-nearly-regular-driver, Said powered the No. 21 into the top-35 ahead of TGOM's favorite driver, Dave Blaney, with a 14th-place finish.
"Mission accomplished," Said said. "At the end, I think we could've gotten a top-10, but where the 22 car was, I had to really think about it. I kind of gave up and let the 2 car by and then made a little mistake and the 12 got by.
"But still, that's exactly what they needed - and I got to race instead of watching on the couch, and I get to take a picture away of me driving a Wood Brothers car, so it's a pretty special weekend."
Elliott started filling in the No. 21 at the Coca-Cola 600 so his past champion's provisionals could help the team return to the top-35.
Schrader, who's been a much better sport about his ride getting taken away than a lot drivers could ever be, should be back for Michigan, right?
What are you doing this weekend, Boris? What's that? You're helping TGOM win the Blaniac Challenge, you say?
Most of the road race ringers were shut out by rain this weekend at Watkins Glen International, but at least one driver thought it would be a shame not to have Boris Said behind the wheel of a race car. I totally agree!
Wood Brothers/JTG Racing co-owner Len Wood:
"Bill [Elliott] came to me and said, 'In the best interest of the team, let's put Boris in. Bill is an excellent road racer - the first race he ever won was at Riverside. He suggested putting Boris in. We first cleared it with our sponsors and then went to NASCAR and cleared it with them."
Woohoo! I'm sure that makes the Said Heads happy. But more importantly, it makes me very happy!
Both the WBJTF #21 and BDR #22 cars will finally push the Ginn Racing #13 out of the top 35 in owner points and one of them will officially gain the spot. With the #21 only 26 points behind the #22 heading to a road course with Said behind the wheel, it's highly likely they could steal the Ginn Gift back from Dave Blaney, who would then be on the outside looking in again next week at MIS.
Sterling Marlin won't be back in the drivers seat for Morgan-McClure Motorsports, despite a report yesterday that he might find a ride in a second car from the team, XM radio reported.
The FanHouse wasn't exactly believing the idea behind Marlin moving in as a teammate with Ward Burton yesterday, either.
XM Radio got a hold of McClure Thursday.
Morgan McClure team owner Larry McClure told Claire B. Lang on XM Satellite Radio that the rumor is absolutely not true.
McClure: "I know nothing about it. I have talked to no one. I have not talked to Sterling in a year and I have not talked to any of his people."
CBL: By no stretch of the imagination would anyone think that Sterling Marlin is going to go work for you.
McClure: "No mam."
Interestingly enough, the Cup Scene Daily no longer has any mention of the article up on the site. (HT: Jayski)
Ken Schrader Makes One-Race Cup Return w/ BAM Racing
I'd imagine when Ken Schrader decided to allow Bill Elliott to fill his seat in the No. 21 due to champion's provisionals in May, he didn't expect the end of July to roll around until he found a new ride.
Monday on Live with Regis and Kelly and Jeff Gordon, Gordon reminded us all that white men still can't dance. Exception required, of course, for Wade Robson, but trust me when I tell you, Gordon didn't learn his pelvic moves from WaJeRo ... or Elvis.
"Oversteer" is an understatement. If you find the "Whine Up" performance as painful as I do, you'll want to let the video load first (or at least turn the volume down) and let 'er rip at about 3:12 to go and wait for the hilarity that is Jeff Gordon's runaway pelvis.
Think an "I'm sorry, honey" for trying to giddy up and grind on Kat DeLuna and embarrassing himself on national television is gonna cut it? I hope he came home with more than an apology for Ingrid. Ella, too. Seriously, one day her friends are going to give her so much sh*t about this video.
"The thing he doesn't understand is, when he was winning all those races, there weren't 43 cars that could win. There were, like, five."
-Steve Wallace, on father Rusty's expectations for him in the Busch Series [Valvoline Track Talk Newsletter, h/t MotorsportsNews.Net (work)
Elliott Less Than Awesome Riverside Speedway in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, is not feeling the awesomeness from Bill Elliott after he canceled a track appearance he made before committing to drive the #21 car:
"We don't want this type of driver...representing our facility, our sponsors or our race fans. If we had any idea Elliott was that kind of person, we would never have approached him, but instead chosen a Cup driver that understands a deal and the seriousness of his actions."
"I Wasn't Driving, Officer" Recipe for 4th of July BWI and Reckless Boating, NASCAR Style
Ingredients: Kyle Busch Kyle Busch's boat Greg Biffle's registration One unidentified front tire changer One unidentified girlfriend Vats of alcohol
Leader of the Outside the Top 35 Pack For the second week in a row, Red Bull driver Brian Vickers claimed the top starting spot among those teams outside the Top 35. Vickers' team currently sits in 39th position in owner points. While he sits only less than 200 points back from the 35th spot, he has not yet been able to close the gap because those drivers in between keep making races, too.
Following the Leader Fellow Toyota driver Dave Blaney scores the second sweet spot for the second consecutive week. He'll start in 17th.
The Wood Brothers/JTG Racing #21 Motorcraft Genuine Auto Parts Ford will start 21st. Bill Elliott qualified on time for the third time in four entries and still has five championship provisionals left. Having Elliott in the car hasn't produced the results they were looking for yet. The team has gone from 39th to 40th since Elliott stepped in at Lowe's.
Scott Riggs, who has only had one DNQ despite having to race in every weekend, will start 22nd.
Paul Menard, David Reutimann and A.J. Allmendinger will bring up the rear starting in 38th, 40th and 43rd respectively.
Losers of the Week (DNQs) Mike Bliss (11), Ward Burton (8), Dale Jarrett (4), Kevin Lepage (12), Jeremy Mayfield (10), Kenny Wallace (7)
Leader of the Outside the Top 35 Pack Brian Vickers was the top qualifier of all drivers outside the top 35 in owner points.
As predicted, the red bull had no trouble qualifying on the Pocono tri-oval. He'll start in the 9th position, a season best.
For now, Vickers is pleased with his team's progress and the direction in which it is headed:
"We seem to be really good in the races and I'm really proud of Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development). They've been working real hard and it has shown in the last couple races with how well the Toyotas have been running. I'm real proud of our entire Red Bull team that's building these race cars -- our intermediate program has really been improving week after week. We've been doing a good job in the race and Doug (Richert) has been calling great races. I'm just excited to race Sunday and hopefully we can be just as good when we get to Michigan."
Following the Leader Dave Blaney returns after sitting Dover out. He starts 14th. Ward Burton 20th. Paul Menard starts his first race with a new crew chief in the 21st spot.
David Reutimann will be the sole representative for Michael Waltrip Racing, starting in 23rd. Vickers Red Bull teammate A.J. Allmendinger will pull off 28th. Scott Riggs 31st.
Bill Elliott was forced to used a championship provisional this week and will start 43rd.
Losers of the Week (DNQs) Mike Bliss (10), Dale Jarrett (3), Kevin Lepage (11), Jeremy Mayfield (9), Kenny Wallace (6), Michael Waltrip (12)
Welcome back to another edition of Sprint Cup Notes & Quotes, where even Noah couldn't keep his boat afloat after the non-stop rain at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Another top 10, another $10. Dave Blaney's 6th place finish earned him another spot in the owners points standings, which means I owe the Victory Junction Gang Camp more dough..jpg)
Boris Said was living the life Sunday at Watkins Glen. He, after all, got a last-minute ride in the Wood Brothers No. 21 after missing the race in his own car due to rain on Friday's qualifying.
What are you doing this weekend, Boris? What's that? You're helping TGOM win the Blaniac Challenge, you say? 
Sterling Marlin won't be back in the drivers seat for Morgan-McClure Motorsports, despite a report yesterday that he might find a ride in a second car from the team, XM radio reported.
Rusty's Getting Rusty
Leader of the Outside the Top 35 Pack
Leader of the Outside the Top 35 Pack
Race: 
